Baru clinches Forbes oil, gas award

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Wednesday, said its Group Managing Director, Mr. Maikanti Baru, has been awarded the Forbes Best of Africa Oil and Gas Man of the Year 2017 prize.

Mr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru

In a statement in Abuja, the NNPC said news of the nomination of Baru was conveyed to the Corporation via a letter signed by Mark Furlong, President, Customs Solutions Media, on behalf of Forbes Media.

According to the NNPC, Forbes, in the document, informed that the award was given specially to top oil and gas personalities who have made far-reaching and positive contributions to the development of the sector, and have caused sustained stability of the economy in which they operate.

In arriving at the choice of Baru, the statement explained that Forbes noted that it had followed with keen interest the rising profile and impressive career path of the NNPC GMD through the years.

It quoted Forbes as saying, “For these and other landmark achievements which you have recorded throughout your enviable career, your nomination for this prestigious Forbes 2017 Award has been approved by Forbes Custom’s Award Committee. This Award will be conferred on you by Forbe’s Mark Furlong.”

Forbes also noted that the award ceremony would be graced by doyens of the international oil and gas business community, policy makers, entrepreneurs, politicians, opinion leaders, among others.

The NNPC further stated that in his 18-month stewardship thus far as chief executive of the NNPC, Baru has received many awards and accolades affirming his leadership qualities.

These awards include the PETAN Appreciation Award for the promotion of the growth of Nigerian Companies and Entrepreneurs in the Petroleum Industry; the PETAN 2017 Oil and Gas Industry Award in recognition of the Corporation’s aggressive exploration campaign in the Benue Trough and the Chad Basin, as well as the Diamond Award in recognition of NNPC’s support and contribution towards the success of SPE’s Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition(NAICE) 2017, among others.

He is also Member, Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN); Member, Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) and Chairman of the NGA Advisory Board; Member, Institute of Directors of Nigeria (IoD); Member, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN); and Honourary Member, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), among others.